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Washington State Department of Agriculture
Avian Health Program
Chickens 101 Training Course
The goal of this course is to provide you with a basic understanding of poultry.
Anatomy and Physiology of Poultry
Birds vs. Mammal
• Birds: – Feathers instead of fur – No teeth – Lay eggs – Float and fly – Excrete waste through one orifice only
Photo by Kimberly Engelkes
Anatomy vs. Physiology
• Anatomy: The science and structure of animals
• Physiology: The science dealing with how an organism functions
Body Systems of Poultry
• Below are a few body systems of poultry:
– Integumentary – Respiratory – Skeletal – Digestive
Integumentary System • The skin, feathers and beak
– Protect the bird from external harm • Skin
– Plumage: outer covering of the bird’s body • Feather, scales and filoplumes
– Filoplumes: hair-like structures at the base of the feathers
– Wattle: Red (usually) growth under the beak, works with the comb, growth located on top of their head
• Wattle and comb circulate blood to regulate body temperature
– The size of the comb is an indicator of the level of testosterone. » Large comb = more testosterone present
Integumentary System
Plumage
Wattle
Beak
Comb Filoplume
Scales
Nails
Scale and Plumage
• Scales – Located on feet and legs
• Plumage – Protects against cuts and bruises – Helps regulate body temperature
• This is important because birds do not have sweat glands
Respiratory System
• Unlike mammals, birds lack a diaphragm to inflate and deflate the lungs – Birds have air sacs located in their neck and body
cavity that inflate their lungs – Gas exchange occurs in the lungs and the air sacs
function to move air in and out of the respiratory system
• Nares: Nostrils located on their beak
Skeletal System • Pneumatic (hollow) Bones
– Connect with respiratory system – Light bones allow for flight
• Medullary Bone – Contain a high amount of calcium – Calcium is stored in the bones to assist with producing the shell
of the egg
• Fused Bones – Bones in the feet are fused
• Causes birds to walk upright – Bones in the back are fused for flight
Digestive System • Mouth
– Tongue – Beak – Taste buds
• Esophagus – Flexible tube that connects the
mouth to the crop • Crop
– Moisten and temporary storage of food
• Provenriculus – Stomach – Uses acids to breakdown food
• Gizzard – Grinds up food particles
• Small intestines (3 sections) – Duodenum – Ileum – Jejunum
• Absorbs nutrients from food
• Ceca – Ferments left over food and
absorbs water • Colon (large intestine)
– Absorbs water • Cloaca
– Expels feces and urine through the vent
Digestive System
Commercial Broiler Breeds • Broiler
– Hybrids or combinations of different breeds • Developed for specific characteristics
– Grow faster and larger – Large breast meat yield – More efficient feed conversion – More disease resistance
• Used by commercial broiler producing companies • Weakness: Do not lay as many eggs as layer breeds
Commercial Broiler Breeds • Cornish Cross
– White Cornish x White Plymouth Rock • Reach 4 - 5lbs in 6 weeks • Reach 6 - 10lbs in 8 - 12 weeks
– White Cornish • Broad and meaty
– White Plymouth Rock • Docile and good dual purpose breed (layer and broiler)
Commercial Broiler Breeds
Cornish Cross Cornish Hen
White Plymouth Rock
Commercial Layer Breeds
• Layer – Genetically selected for high egg production – Small bodied birds – Two types
• Birds that lay white eggs and birds that lay brown eggs • White ear lobes = White eggs • Red ear lobes = Brown eggs
Commercial Layer Breeds • White Leghorns
– Very good layers of white eggs
• Rhode Island Red – Very good layers of brown eggs
Examples of Non-Commercial Breeds
• Laying breeds – Ameraucana: Lays blue
eggs – Araucana: Lays blue to
bluish green eggs – Maran: Lays large dark
brown eggs • Dual purpose bird
– Plymouth Rock: Dual purpose bird
– Welsummer: Lays dark, deep red eggs
• Meat breeds – Brahma: One of the
largest breeds, good winter layer
– Delaware: Good for small scale operations
– Jersey Giant: Good disposition for backyard flocks
– Orpington: Good dual purpose bird
– Wyandotte: Good dual purpose bird, and does well in the cold
Examples of Non-Commercial Breeds
• Ornamental breeds – Cochin: Good winter layer and popular show bird – Langshan: Good dual purpose bird that lays brown
eggs – Polish: A favorite as a pet chicken, and known for its
topknot of feathers – Silkie: Unique looking, ideal as a pet chicken, and excellent broody hen
Pathogens • Bacteria
– Salmonella Pullorum – Mycoplasma
Gallisepticum – Botulism
• Fungi – Aspergillosis
• Viruses – Avian Influenza – Fowl Pox – Infectious Bronchitis – Infectious Bursal
Disease
Pathogens – Parasites
• Internal – Worms
» Round Worms – Protozoa
» Coccidia
• External – Lice – Mites
Salmonella Pullorum
• Background – Infections occur in
chickens, turkeys, and game birds
– Spread through parent to chick
• Symptoms – Characterized by white
diarrhea & high mortality rate in birds
– Sick birds are sleepy and weak
– Chicks huddle near heat source
– Chicks that survive become carriers
• Prevention – Purchase birds and
hatching eggs from National Poultry Improvement Plan (NPIP) participants
Mycoplasma Gallisepticum(MG)
• Background – Affects primarily chickens
and turkeys, but can effect game birds and waterfowl
– Can be transmitted through the egg
• Can be coughed into the air, contaminating feed, water & the environment
• Infection my be dormant until the birds are stressed
• Symptoms – Coughing – Sneezing – Nose and eye discharge – Drop in egg production and
consumption of food
• Prevention – Purchase birds and
hatching eggs from MG-free breeders (usually NPIP participants)
Botulism • Background
– Caused by ingesting the toxins of Clostridium botulism
– C. botulism can be found in dead poultry, and rotting feed and food
• Symptoms – Symptoms occur within a
few hours to a few days – Drowsiness – Weakness
– Loss of control of legs, wings, neck
– Ruffled feathers – Diarrhea (broilers)
• Prevention – Prevent access to C.
botulism – Dispose of dead birds
properly – Do not feed birds spoiled
food or feed
Aspergillosis
• Background – Occurs in chickens, turkeys
and game birds – Chicks and poults may
become infected during hatching
• Due to inhaling spores from contaminated machines or litter
– In older birds, infection may be caused primarily by inhalation of contaminated dust
• Symptoms – Gasping
– Accelerated and labored breathing
– Diarrhea – Anorexia – Dehydration – Increased thirst – High mortality
• Prevention – Keep feed and litter dry so
mold doesn’t grow – Clean out feeders regularly – Avoid wet litter under the
feeders and waterers – Provide good ventilation in the
poultry house
Avian Influenza (AI)
• Background – 2 types of AI
• Low-Path • High-Path
– Low-path AI is commonly found in wild waterfowl
– AI viruses are further divided into 15 hemagglutinin (H1-15) and 9 neuraminidase (N1-9) subtypes
– Most AI viruses (H1-15 subtypes) are of LP
• However, some H5 and H7 subtypes can mutate into high-path in domestic chickens, turkeys, and game birds
• Symptoms – Low-Path
• Coughing • Sneezing • Depression • Inflammation of the sinuses • Nasal and eye discharge • Decrease egg production
– High-Path • Sudden mortality
– Mortality can reach up to 100%
• Respiratory signs may be present, but not always
• Bluish wattle and comb • Discoloration of feet and legs • Blood-tinged mouth and nose
discharges.
Avian Influenza (AI)
• Prevention – Keep wild waterfowl away
from your birds – Separate the species of birds
(i.e. separate the chickens from the ducks)
– Clean and disinfect equipment that has been used around other birds
– Have your birds routinely tested for AI
– Purchase birds from NPIP AI Clean flocks
– Separate new birds from your flock for at least 3 weeks
Photo by Joan McClenny
Fowl Pox • Background
– Slow spreading virus – Affects chickens, turkeys
and other species of birds – Can be transmitted through
mosquitoes – Two forms of Fowl Pox
• Cutaneous • Diphtheritic
• Symptoms – Cutaneous
• Mild reduction in weight gain
• Temporary loss of egg production
• Lesions on the head, neck, legs and feet
• Low mortality – Diphtheritic
• Lesions in the upper respiratory system, digestive tract, nasal cavity
• May lead to nasal or eye discharge
• Low mortality
• Prevention – Fowl Pox vaccination
Infectious Bronchitis (IB) • Background
– A virus that occurs in chickens
– Rapidly spreads and highly contagious
– Spread through respiratory discharge and
• Airborne droplets • Ingestion of contaminated
feed and water
• Symptoms – Chicks
• Coughing • Sneezing
• Nasal discharge • Weakness • Depression • Huddling near heat source
– Adult birds • Coughing • Sneezing • Drop in egg production • Soft-shelled or misshapen
eggs
• Prevention – Vaccines can be used
Infectious Bursal Disease (IBD) • Background
– Occurs primarily in chickens
– Clinical signs and mortality are more severe in birds 3-6 weeks old
– Birds less than 3 weeks old do not show symptoms
– Shed in feces
• Symptoms – Tremors or unsteadiness – Depression – Anorexia – Ruffled feathers – A droopy appearance – Diarrhea – Dehydration – Vent pecking – Low mortality
• Prevention – Vaccines are available
Roundworms • Background
– There are many different types of roundworms that can infect poultry
– Younger birds are more likely to become ill
– But can affect birds of any age – Spread through feces – Earthworms are common
carriers of some roundworms
• Symptoms – Thin – Poor feather quality – Pale inside of mouth – Diarrhea or droppings pasted
to their feathers near their vent – Birds can die from severe
infections – If one or two birds are showing
signs of roundworm, then the whole flock should be treated
• Prevention – Use feeders and waterers
designed to minimize contamination
Round Worms – Don’t allow birds to eat off
of the ground – Use deep litter in the coop
so the birds do not eat feces
– Clean out coop frequently to remove feces
Photo by Sue Young
Coccidia
• Background – Protozoal disease of poultry – Caused by the protozoa
Eimeria – 9 species of Eimeria in
chickens & 7 in turkeys – Wide range of symptoms
depending on the type of Eimeria
– Shed in feces which can contaminate feed, water, dust, soil and litter
• Symptoms – Diarrhea (may have mucous
or blood present)
– Inflammation of the small intestines
– Decreased growth rate – Decreased egg production – Dehydration – Listlessness – Weakness
• Prevention – Purchase feed with
Anticoccidial Compounds • Does not affect all types of
Eimeria – Vaccines are available
Lice • Background
– There are over 40 species of lice that are specific to domestic poultry
– Examine the vent area, underside of the wings, the head, and legs to locate the lice
– Most lice are straw-colored
• Prevention – Pesticide treatments
• Use a treatment that is approved for use on birds
– Lice do not live in the environment, so remove infected feathers from the premises
– Inspect birds on a monthly or bi-weekly basis
Mites • Background
– Mites feed on blood, feathers, skin, or scales
– Some mites are known or suspected of causing other diseases
– There are many different types of mites that affect poultry
– A few are: • Chicken Mite-Red Mite
– Can cause anemia and death (especially in young birds)
• Northern Fowl Mite – Heavy infestations appear as
blackened feathers – After handling the bird, the mites
may transfer to humans
• Depluming Mites – Live on feathers or in the quills – Resulting in loss of feathers,
causing inability to regulate temperature
• Scaly Leg Mites – Affected skin becomes thickened
and crusty – Without treatment the bird can
become crippled.
• Prevention – Insecticides can be used
• Powders, sprays or dusts
Preventing Disease on the Farm • Biosecurity is the main way of preventing the
introduction of diseases onto your farm – Biosecurity reduces the risk of pathogens from
forming, which prevents the spread of diseases from one flock to another
– Preventing illness in birds and other animals, is very similar to preventing illness in humans
• Good hygiene is imperative
Benefits of Biosecurity • Biosecurity reduces the number of pathogens on
a farm • Biosecurity also :
– Increases productivity and production – Decreases the use of medication (antibiotics) – Enhances the value of the flock
Biosecurity Steps • Keep your birds in a protected area
– Keep them fenced in to prevent animals and people from entering the pen
– A hard roof or tarp will prevent wild birds from entering the pen
• Keep wild waterfowl droppings out of the coop
• Fresh water should be available at all times – Nipple drinkers or rabbit type drinkers reduce the
spread of disease
Biosecurity Steps • When visitors visit your farm, provide them with
boots or disposable booties – This will prevent the transmission of disease on your
farm – Clean and disinfect the boots when they leave and
dispose of disposable booties • Do not let people that own birds enter your bird
area.
Biosecurity Steps • Clean and sanitize equipment and supplies
– Sanitizing equipment and supplies reduces pathogens • This is especially important when vehicles, equipment or
supplies have been near other birds (i.e. fairs, auctions, etc.)
• Wear coveralls or special clothing when working with your birds. – Clean your clothes after working with your birds
• Work from youngest to oldest birds – Young birds are highly susceptible of being infected
with a pathogen
Biosecurity Steps • Eliminate excess trees, grass, and debris around
the chicken pen – These items can harbor rodents and other animals
that can spread disease in your flock, or harm your birds
– Control rodents in order to reduce the spread of disease in your flock
• Keep feed in a sealed container – Keeping feed away from rodents and other birds is
essential when trying to keep your flock healthy
Biosecurity Steps • Stir or rake bedding (litter) often so manure is
evenly spread throughout and moisture is absorbed – This will reduce flies and odors
• Sick and dying birds should be separated from the flock immediately
• Thoroughly clean and disinfect poultry housing between flocks to ensure that there aren’t pathogens present
Report a Sick Bird Contact the WSDA Avian Health Program if
your birds are sick
1-800-606-3056 [email protected]
Or Contact your local veterinarian
Helpful Contacts
Dr. Lyndon Badcoe (WSDA) Avian Health Veterinarian
(360) 725-5763 [email protected]
WSU Avian Health Laboratory
(253) 445-4537
References • Slides were adapted from the following resources:
– The Poultry and Egg Institute “Poultry & Egg Production Curriculum”
• http://www.poultryegginstitute.org/training/index.cfm – Merck Veterinary Manual
• http://www.merckvetmanual.com – Roundworms in Poultry - Dr. Jeanne Marie Smith
• http://animalscience.ucdavis.edu/phi/PHI/ROUNDWORMS%20PHI%20Handout%20from%20Dr.%20Smith.pdf